Every classic car has a story to tell, and, for many collectors, the history of the car can be just as important as the car itself. In the age of the internet connecting with past caretakers of these special vehicles may be as simple as a few strategic Google searches. Still, often a vintage car's history has been obscured by the passage of time. While not all of us feel the need to go in search of a car’s previous owner, it can be a fruitful treasure trove of information and stories. 

Our client’s 1961 Maserati 3500GT Vignale Spyder has called our shop its home for the last months while undergoing a complete restoration. With the project coming to a close, we've come to learn a great deal about this wonderful car's storied history. We were fortunate enough to read a first-hand account from Guy Williams, Jr, son of the man behind Zorro's famous mask.

Guy Jr. recalled traveling with his mother and sister to meet his father in Rome, where he was shooting a film. While there, Guy Williams had purchased a brand new 1961 Maserati Vignale Spyder, a beautiful red car over black leather interior. Once Mr. Williams finished his shoot, the family toured around Italy in what could have only been the greatest unintentional grand touring car advert of all time. Eventually, both car and family made it back to the United States, where the Maserati was driven frequently to and from 20th Century Fox during the filming of Lost In Space. Guy Jr. describes having many childhood memories with his dad's 3500GT, and it seems as though the car became part of the family for a time. 

Classic cars have a unique ability to collect these kinds of stories. Each caretaker leaves their mark on the vehicle in subtle ways, but learning the stories a car can tell is a joy in of itself. What was once a brand new 3500GT Spyder seen driving around Rome with the entire Williams family inside had since fallen into disrepair. Chrome began to fade, rubber began to dry, and age wore away at the mirror-like paint that had once caught the eye of Guy Williams. Mr. Mullaney saw this opportunity to write his own chapter in the history of this specific 3500GT by repainting the body an extremely flattering shade of Maserati Blu Sera and making sure every aspect of the car was new again, breathing new life into this fantastic vehicle. With final assembly just around the corner, we are thrilled to see this 3500GT back on the road this spring.